[Ord. 75, 8/11/1987, § 1; as amended by Ord. 119,
4/14/1998]
1.
ACCIDENTAL FALSE ALARM
ALARM
ALARM DEVICE
CENTRAL RECEIVING STATION
DIRECT ALARM DEVICE
DISPATCH CENTER
FALSE ALARM
INDIRECT ALARM DEVICE
INTENTIONAL FALSE ALARM
PERMIT HOLDER
PERSON
TELEPHONE DIALER ALARM DEVICE
As used in this Part, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context.
Any false alarm which is not an intentional false alarm as
defined herein, or, not when an intrusion, crime, fire or other emergency
has actually occurred.
A communication to the dispatch center indicating that a
crime, fire or other emergency situation warranting immediate action
by the police department or fire department has occurred or is occurring.
A mechanical device designed to automatically transmit an
alarm by wire, telephone, radio or other means (1) directly to the
dispatch center, (2) to a person who is instructed to notify the police
department or fire department of the alarm, or (3) to activate a bell
or sounding device to be hearing outside a building which is intended
to alert the police or others to the existence of a crime, fire or
other emergency situation warranting police or fire department action.
The alarm or control panel installed in the dispatch center
for the purpose of giving visual or audio response to direct alarm
devices.
An alarm device, other than a telephone dialer alarm device,
designed to transmit an alarm directly to the dispatch center.
The Northumberland County 911 Center.
An alarm to which the police department or fire department
responds resulting from the activation of an alarm device when a crime,
fire or other emergency warranting immediate action by the police
department or fire department has not in fact occurred.
An alarm device designed to transmit an alarm to a person
who is instructed to notify the police department or fire department
of the alarm.
A false alarm resulting from the intentional activation of
an alarm device by an individual under circumstances where that individual
has no reasonable basis to believe that a crime, fire or other emergency
warranting immediate action by the police department or fire department
has occurred or is occurring.
A person to whom the police department has issued an alarm
device permit.
An individual, corporation, partnership, incorporated association
or other similar entity.
An alarm device designed to automatically transmit a recorded
message over regular telephone lines directly to the dispatch center
or to a person who is instructed to notify the police department or
fire department of the alarm.
2.
In this Part, the singular shall include the plural, the plural shall
include the singular; the masculine shall include the feminine and
the neuter.
[Ord. 75, 8/11/1987, § 2]
1.
It shall be unlawful for a property owner, lessee of property or
a person otherwise occupying a premises within Ralpho Township to
put an alarm device into operation on his premises or to allow an
alarm device to be put into operation on his premises without first
obtaining an alarm device permit from the police department.
2.
In order to apply for an alarm device permit, a person must submit
an application to the police department stating:
A.
His name.
B.
His home and business address and the telephone number of each.
C.
The location at which the alarm device will be installed and operated.
D.
The names, addresses and telephone numbers of at least two individuals
who have keys to the premises at which the alarm device is located
and who are authorized to enter the premises at which the alarm device
is located.
E.
A general written description of the device other than schematics.
F.
If the device is to be leased or rented from, or is to be serviced
pursuant to a service agreement by, a person other than the person
making application for an alarm device permit, the name, address and
telephone number of that person must be stated in the application.
In addition, each person submitting an application for an alarm device
permit shall submit a signed statement in the following form:
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"I (We), the undersigned applicant(s) for an alarm device permit,
intending to be legally bound hereby agree with Ralpho Township that
neither I (we), nor anyone claiming by, through or under me(us), shall
make any claim against Ralpho Township, its officials or agents, for
any damages caused to the premises at which the alarm device, which
is the subject of this application, is or will be located, if such
damage is caused by a forced entry to said premises by employees or
agents of Ralpho Township in order to answer an alarm from said alarm
device at a time when said premises are or appear to be unattended
or when in the discretion of said employees or agents the circumstances
appear to warrant a forced entry."
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The police department shall furnish forms which any person wishing
to apply for an alarm device permit shall submit with his application.
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3.
A person applying for an alarm device permit for a telephone dialer
alarm device, local sounding device or an indirect alarm device shall
submit the required fee along with his application. The fee shall
be fixed from time to time by resolution of Ralpho Township.
4.
The police department shall, within 30 weekdays from receipt of an
application for an alarm device permit, either grant an alarm device
permit to the applicant or notify the applicant in writing that his
application has been denied and the reason or reasons why it has been
denied.
5.
An application for an alarm device permit may only be denied for
the following reasons:
6.
Notwithstanding the language contained in subsection (1) of this Section, it shall not be unlawful for a person to continue to operate an alarm device on his premises without an alarm device permit for a period of 180 days after the effective date of this Part; provided, said alarm device was in operation on the effective date of this Part.
7.
The police department shall have the power to revoke an alarm device
permit. An alarm device permit shall be revoked by notifying the permit
holder in writing that his alarm device permit has been revoked and
the reason or reasons why it has been revoked. Said written notice
shall be:
8.
An alarm device permit may only be revoked for the following reasons:
A.
Failure of an alarm device to conform to the operational standards
set forth in § 103 of this Part.
B.
The occurrence of more than two false alarms from an alarm device
during any sixty-day consecutive day period.
C.
The occurrence of an intentional false alarm caused by the permit
holder or by an individual who resides on the premises where the alarm
device is located.
D.
Failure of a permit holder with a direct alarm device to pay to the
installation or maintenance fees assessed to him under § 105
of this Part within 30 days of the due date thereof.
9.
A person who has had his alarm device permit revoked under subsections (7) and (8) of this Section may reapply for an alarm device permit 45 days after the effective date of such revocation; provided, for nonpayment of installation or maintenance fees or both, the police department shall deny said application unless such charge or fee has been paid. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a person who has had his alarm device permit twice revoked on the basis of an occurrence of an intentional false alarm may not reapply for an alarm device permit for one year from the effective date of the second revocation.
[Ord. 75, 8/11/1987, § 3]
1.
If an alarm device is designed to transmit a recorded message directly
to the dispatch center, the duration of such recorded message shall
not exceed 60 seconds. The contents of the recorded message shall
be intelligible and in a format approved by the police department.
2.
An alarm device need not contain a delay service which causes a delay
to occur between the time the alarm device receives a triggering stimulus
and the time the alarm device transmits an alarm.
3.
A direct alarm device shall be designed to dial only specific telephone
numbers designated by the police department; and to allow the permit
holder to abort the alarm signals.
4.
A direct alarm device shall be designed so that it interfaces with
the central receiving station maintained by the dispatch center.
5.
If an alarm device is designed to cause a bell, siren or sound-making
device to be activated on or near the premises on which the alarm
device is installed at the time it gives an alarm, said alarm device
shall be designed to deactivate the bell, siren or other sound-making
device after 30 minutes of operation. Preexisting units must be modified
for a 30 minute device.
6.
All alarm devices shall meet the applicable standards of the Underwrites
Laboratories and/or the National Fire Protection Association and/or
other recognized industry standards, and shall be permitted under
this Part if in conformity thereto. An alarm device which does not
meet any of the above standards or for which there is no recognized
industry standard shall require the applicant or for a permit to submit
evidence of the reliability or suitability of the alarm device. Any
permit issued for such an alarm device which does not conform to the
recognized standard shall be conditionally subject to satisfactory
performance of said alarm device after installation. The applicant
for a permit may be required to submit subsequent evidence of the
reliability and suitability of the alarm device.
7.
The sensory mechanism used in connection with an alarm device must
be adjusted to suppress false indications of fire or intrusion, so
that the alarm device will not be activated by impulses due to transient
pressure change in water pipes, short flashes of light, wind noises
such as the rattling or vibrating of doors or windows, vehicular noise
adjacent to the premises, or other forces unrelated to genuine alarm
situations.
8.
The alarm device must be maintained by the permit holder in good
repair to assure reliability of operation.
[Ord. 75, 8/11/1987, § 4; as amended by Ord. 119,
4/14/1998]
1.
Intentional False Alarms. No permit holder or person shall create
an intentional false alarm. In the event of an intentional false alarm,
the permit shall be immediately revoked and the violator shall be
liable for the penalties set forth in § 111, herein.
2.
Accidental False Alarms. Any person or permit holder causing accidental
false alarms for any reason shall pay to Ralpho Township a charge
for each and every false alarm to which the police and/or fire departments
responds, in each calendar year, the fee to be in an amount to be
as established from time to time by resolution of the Board of Supervisors.
[Ord. 75, 8/11/1987, § 5; as amended by Ord. 119,
4/14/1998]
1.
A permit holder who has a direct alarm device which is connected
to a central receiving station at dispatch center may be required
to pay to the dispatch center a fee for the connection of his direct
alarm device to the central receiving station and a yearly fee for
the maintenance of the central receiving station.
2.
The fee for connection of a direct alarm device to a central receiving
station at dispatch center shall be determined by the Northumberland
County 911 Center and paid in advance of installation.
3.
In addition, a permit holder who has a direct alarm device shall
pay a yearly fee for the maintenance of the central receiving station.
This maintenance fee shall be determined by the Northumberland County
911 Center on an annual basis.
4.
The police department or dispatch center shall not in any way be
obligated to provide or continue to provide a central receiving station
facility or facilities for direct alarm devices.
[Ord. 75, 8/11/1987, § 6]
If the location of dispatch center should change at any time,
Ralpho Township shall not be responsible for any cost incurred by
permit holders or other persons because of said change in location.
[Ord. 75, 8/11/1987, § 7]
No person shall conduct or test any alarm device without first
obtaining permission from the police department. Where the equipment
is keyed through an intermediary, no such permission is necessary
unless the alarm or signal is to be relayed to the central receiving
station.
[Ord. 75, 8/11/1987, § 8]
The issuance of any permit shall not constitute acceptance by
Ralpho Township of any liability to maintain any equipment, to answer
alarms, nor otherwise render Ralpho Township liable to any person
for any loss or damage relating to the alarm system or procedure.
[Ord. 75, 8/11/1987, § 9]
1.
Administration and enforcement of this Part shall be functions of
Ralpho Township and shall include the following:
A.
Authority to accept or reject a permit application or revoke a permit
because of misrepresentation or false statement contained in any application
for a permit, failure to correct any deficiencies in equipment or
operation of an alarm device after receipt of due notice from Ralpho
Township, or not meeting other conditions and specifications of this
Part.
B.
Authority to order the disconnection of an alarm device until such
device is made to comply with operational standards set forth herein,
but only when evidence of failure to comply with said standards imposes
a burden upon Ralpho Township as a result of false alarms.
C.
Authority, at reasonable times and upon written notice, to enter
upon any premises within Ralpho Township to inspect the installation
and operation of an alarm device.
[Ord. 75, 8/11/1987, § 10]
Whenever, under the provisions of this Part, the police department
is empowered to make a decision with respect to the installation,
operation or maintenance of any alarm device, or with respect to the
denial or revocation of any permit relating thereto, any applicant
for a permit or permit holder aggrieved by such decision may, within
10 days following the decision file a written appeal therefrom with
the Supervisors of Ralpho Township, whereupon the Supervisors shall
promptly conduct a hearing and affirm, modify or reverse the decision
appealed from. The decision of the Supervisors shall be final.
[Ord. 75, 8/11/1987, § 11; as amended by Ord. 112,
6/11/1996, §§ 1, 2; and by Ord. 119, 4/14/1998]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision
of this Part, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before
a district justice in the manner provided for the enforcement of summary
offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall
be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs and,
in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment
not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this Part continues
or each Section of this Part which shall be found to have been violated
shall constitute a separate offense.
